In brief
In a provocative statement, former President Donald Trump declared that individuals with learning disabilities are unfit for the presidency, specifically targeting California Governor Gavin Newsom, who has dyslexia. Trump's comments have led to backlash from the National Center for Learning Disabilities, emphasizing that dyslexia does not equate to low intelligence or a lack of leadership capabilities.
Donald Trump has said he believes people with learning disabilities should not be president, as he renewed his taunts at California Governor Gavin Newsom over his dyslexia.
President Trump said Newsom, a potential Democratic White House contender, was dumb. He also made fun last week of the California governor's difficulty with reading and spelling, prompting Newsom to call him a brain-dead moron.
The National Center for Learning Disabilities told the BBC it was disturbed by and strongly condemns the Republican president's remarks.
Dyslexia, a learning condition that disrupts how the brain processes written language, affects as many as one in five Americans.
Trump specifically referred to Newsom during a Monday press conference, stating, With a low IQ person, you know, because Gavin Newscum has admitted that he has learning disabilities. Honestly, I'm all for people with learning disabilities, but not for my president. I don't want, I think a president should not have learning disabilities, OK?
Newsom quickly responded on social media, referencing Trump's apparent mistake in calling him President and asserting, NO THANK YOU, WE BELIEVE IN FREE ELECTIONS!.
Trump's comments have sparked outrage, as various advocacy groups and the public call out the stigma surrounding learning disabilities and the implications of such remarks.
The center's chief executive, Jackie Rodriguez, stated that dyslexia does not impair a person's intelligence, judgement or ability to lead, pointing out that historically, many successful individuals, including former U.S. presidents, have been known to have similar learning disabilities.
